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University in South East ‘would not hit other third-level institutions’
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A GROUP of Irish university presidents is arguing that there is “no persuasive evidence” of a need for a university in the South East – but one local campaigner says Kilkenny is ideally poised to become an Oxford-type campus.
A discussion paper to be considered yesterday (Tuesday) and outlined in The Irish Times suggests that it would be “reckless” to set up a technical university in the South East because it could take away funding from the state’s other universities at a time when government funding is already decreasing.
One senior figure even argued that “the whole process is being driven by local politics instead of education priorities” because Ministers Phil Hogan and Brendan Howlin from Kilkenny and Wexford, respectively, are among the advocates of plans for a university in the South East.
This argument comes despite a continuing trend of the South East having the highest unemployment in the country and the second-lowest level of third-level completion.
However, one local Oxford-educated man argues that Kilkenny and the South East can benefit from a university in the region and add to rather than detract from the current university system.
In a letter on Page 18 of this week’s Kilkenny People, Dr Michael Conway outlines his vision for such a technical university. The pending closure of the St Francis Abbey Brewery, while terrible news for those employed there, means that Kilkenny must move forward and take the opportunity to add something that will create jobs and boost life in the city. And that “something” should be “central city campus for Arts and Media based faculties in Kilkenny,” he says.
Pointing to efforts dating as far back as the 17th century to set up a university in Kilkenny, he says now is an ideal time to fulfil that vision.
“Some argue that students from the South East are needed so to be ‘bums on seats’ in arts courses run at Dublin, Cork, Galway and the University of Limerick etc. Some fear the potential cost of any new third-level educational initiatives per se,” Dr Conway says. “But, done correctly and designed to contribute once more to making Ireland the ‘island of saints and scholars’, Kilkenny can be the most attractive place for foreign students wanting to study tailored aspects of the arts etc.”
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
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Brian Keyes
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 11:19 AMMontparnasse Thanks for your comment, there are numerous obstacles to overcome - most of all funding - for a University for the South East but with two strong IT's in the area requesting the move, it certainly seems more likely. Standards are set and another university, located in the South East, would not be a lowering in standards but raising both the availability and quality of education. With the proper funding and infrastructure, it can only benefit the region and the young people from the area.
Montparnasse
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:38 PMFirst, basing a counter argument on the fact that a university's function could help relieve local unemployment and boost the local economy defeats the true purpose of a university: a place of independent thought and critical thinking. Second, both Ministers Hogan and Howlin proposal seems to be as clear cut as a 'slapping a new sticker on it' campaign. Proportionally, Institutes have less PhD and MAMSc graduates on the teaching staff register than universities. By their nature, that's how they operate. For a new university campus to achieve the standard set by our current university system, serious funding would be required by the government to bring the current institutes up to the this standard. However, with current cuts to post-graduate funding (to the tune of €50million), I doubt this project would receive the funds that would be needed (well over €50 million). Instead, for the sake of their respective political campaigns, Ministers Hogan and Howlin are justifying a clear drop in standards in Irish education by simply relabelling a college to a university. A degree from an Irish university is ranked amongst the best in the world. This is due to our ever challenging high standards. From my own experience, I have worked alongside many EU and non-EU nationals who hold degrees from universities in their home countries that are simply not recognized here (and in other western nations). By lowering these standards, both Ministers Hogan and Howlin are essentially condemning actual career prospects for the students of the future. Therefore, while I fully welcome the allocation of university status to the South-East, I believe this should be achieved by proper financial investment, not just lowering the bar.
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